"Marks" by Linda Pastan

Linda Pastan

     Established Jewish-American poet Linda Pastan has captivated audiences of all backgrounds throughout her fruitful career. Linda has been awarded titles like Maryland's Poet Laureate (1991-1995) and the Madamoiselle Poetry Prize.

"Marks"

My husband gives me an A 
for last night's supper, 
an incomplete for my ironing, 
a B plus in bed. 
My son says I am average, 
an average mother, but if 
I put my mind to it 
I could improve. 
My daughter believes 
in Pass/Fail and tells me 
I pass. Wait 'til they learn 
I'm dropping out.

Immediately this poem strikes me as humorous. They way the author uses Ameican Education standards to symbolize the judgements from her family is unique, witty, and slightly sarcastic. However, the tone becomes indignant and irritated the more the poem becomes. They marks are a metaphor for how well she is performing for her family. She is constantly being judged and criticized for her duties. No one appreciates her. It's not an A for effort here. She talks about ironing, cooking, mothering, and her performance in bed. These are all presented as subjects. School isn't optional. Everyone must go, even if it sucks sometimes. This mother  is undergoing the stress and grief of high school for the love of her family. She doesn't have to do these things but her family would never realize that. They think this is her purpose. She is an object, nothing more than her chores. Lines 5-10 talk about the author's relationship with her children. She uses the metaphor of marks to present her children as teachers, mean teachers. Her kids obviously have no respect or gratitude for her. A teacher doesn't need a student, a student needs their teacher. The kids seem to think they have no need for their mom but little do they know, she's done. and she CAN leave.